November is the official month for Movember, AKA Mo Month. This yearly tradition is to support Prostate Cancer Research Awareness. The chief goal is to start the month of November off with a clean shaven face and to just let the “stache”, moustachegrow until the end of the month.

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in a man’s prostate — a small walnut-shaped gland that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. Prostate cancer usually grows slowly and initially remains confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause serious harm. While some types of prostate cancer grows slowly and may need minimal or no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly.

Prostate cancer that is detected early — when it’s still confined to the prostate gland — has a better chance of successful treatment.

Where is the prostate and prostate cancer located?

How old should you be when you start getting your prostate checked?

A man should have his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level checked if he has any of the warning signs of prostate cancer.

A change in urination patterns lasting longer then two weeks.

Frequent urination (especially at night).

Persistent pain in the back, hip, pelvis or thighs.

Burning sensation during urination.

Inability to urinate or difficulty starting urination.

Weak or interrupted urine flow.

Painful urination.

Your chance of getting prostate cancer may be affected by your:

Age ~ Being 50 or older increases your chance of prostate cancer.

Race ~ Prostate cancer is most common among African men.

Family history ~ If your grandfather, father or brother has had prostate cancer, you are more likely to have it too.

Diet ~ Eating high-fat food with few fruits and vegetables may increase your chance of having prostate cancer.

Early Detection of Prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms.

How often should I get checked?

There is significant controversy over when, and even if a man should have his PSA level checked when he has none of these symptoms. Respected expects disagree widely over the tests use. All men should be tested first at no later then 40. After the initial prostate screening, the frequency of future testing should be discussed with your physician. If your grandfather, father, brother or uncle has been diagnosed with prostate cancer then you should start PSA screening at age 30-35.

Movember acknowledges the sprouting of thousands of moustaches on men in Canada and around the world. With their “Mo’s”, these men raise money for prostate cancer research through many different organizations. These donations are vital to maintaining awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer.

On the first of November, the guys register at Movember.com with a clean shaven face. These “Mo’s Bros”, groom, trim and wax their way to the perfect stache. It is the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, are Mo Sistas. Movember’s Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts throughout their community.

These gentlemen become walking, talking, billboards for the 30 days of November for Prostate Cancer Awareness. Through their actions and words, they raise awareness by talking about a subject that a lot of men feel ashamed by. This can be an ignored topic that Movember has taken the taboo and shame out of.

At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their achievements by either throwing their own Movember party or attend one of the Gala Parties held around the world by Movember, for Movember.

The Movember Effect: Awareness & Education, Survivorship, Research

Prostate Cancer is the number one cancer in males is Canada. The funds raised help with the research of this ever growing disease.

The funds raised are directed to programs run directly by Movember and men’s health partner, Prostate Cancer Canada. Together, the two channels work together to ensure that Movemberfunds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world-class programs in line with our strategic goals in the areas of awareness and education, survivorship and research.

Via the moustache, Movember aims to fulfill its vision of having an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health by continuing to spark conversation and spread awareness of men’s health each year.

If you know of someone that has prostate cancer or has the chance of being a host to this disease in your family, start the discussion. There is no reason that this has to be a silent killer. We can work together by keeping the conversation of prostate cancer going, by raising awareness, to this ever rising disease. If detected early the consequences don’t have to be so harsh. We don’t need to loose a friend or a loved one to a disease that can be caught and hopefully treated. Let’s keep this discussion going, talk to you brother, father, husband. Support Movember this November!!

Do you know someone that takes part in this great cause? Do you know someone that has had prostate cancer and has beat the odds? What can you do to help keep this discussion going? Can you be part of the change?

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Euthanatia and helping someone die. What is your view on assisted suicide?

I actually have three conflicting views on this subject. First and foremost I was brought up by a minister as a father. I was brought up to believe that suicide is a sin and that it is the same thing as murder, except murder to yourself and in the end, come judgement time, standing in front of Lord that it will not be justifyable. No matter what good works that you have done in your life murder is murder unless you repent your sins, and obviously you can’t do that if you are dead.

The second view that I have comes soley from the fact that I work part time at a nursing home. I personally see the pain and suffering that some of these people go through. Whether it be cancer, old age, diseases or the lack of being able to do anything on their own anymore. As much as I preserve their dignity and comfort, sometimes it is a shame to see someone just waiting for the, “final stretch.” Knowing that they are there just waiting to die. A Lot of the time once they get into a nursing facility, their family forgets about them. Out of sight equals out of mind. We become their family. So to see a grown man who once use to be spry and now is wearing incontinent products and sleeping all the time because he would rather be dead then have people see how down hill he has become, makes me second guess and question my first view. Why does there have to be so much pain and agony? Why can’t we go when time feels right. When we have lived life to it’s fullest? I mean we have been lifelong tax-payers, we have contributed to society, we have raised a family and at times our children’s children. They have been married for more years then a 100 people as the national average of marriage. When is enough, enough?

My third view on suicide as a whole; I believe that it is a cop out. It upsets me when I have heard of someone committing suicide. It is a selfish undertaking that not only kills the killer but it also, changes and sometimes kills the family and friends associated with them. It is never just about the person that kills himself, everyone linked to them is affected and brought down with the narrow mentality of the person that is selfishly taking their life.

So for me, I am very conflicted with this topic. I think that with the assistance of a professional, family consent and depending on the circumstance then the conversation of euthanasia could be discussed if not religiously bonding. It’s hard to know that someone, ever so ill can not be helped. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like a natural death is the right choice.

What is your view on euthanasia? Do you have conflicting beliefs on this subject? Do you think that euthanasia is any different then murder? Or do you think of euthanasia as more of a mercy death? Share your thoughts with me!!

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As shocked as the world was Music legend and international rock star, Jon Bon Jovi (John Francis Bongiovi, Jr) did not die at the age of 49 of cardiac arrest. Alot of people will be asking the question is this even true, but we are so happy that it is not. This rumor started with a tweet and another blogger that felt the need to stir things up. In a matter of hours this information went viral. I in fact saw it on Facebook. However, someone just had a little too much time on their hands.

On a blog post and an internet tweet making the public believe that the Rockstar Jon Bon Jovi (John Francis Bongiovi, Jr) born March 2, 1962 was pronounced dead todayDecember 19, 2011, the blog post went a little something like this;

After paramedics found him in a coma at his Empress Hotel, city and law enforcement of Asbury Park, New Jersey sources told The Times after World Christmas Tour concert on The Bamboozle Festival, North Beach Asbury Park.

New Jersey Fire Department-First Aid Captain Douglas Gray told the local newpaper that the paramedics responded to a 911 call from the home. When they arrived, Bon Jovi was not breathing.

The paramedics performed CPR and took Jon Bon Jovi to Jersey Shore Medical Center, Ruda said. Hundreds of reporters gathered at the hospital awaiting word on his condition. The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Bon Jovi team rushed to Bon Jovi’s bedside, where he suffered Cardiac arrest.

The detectives plan to interview relatives, friends and Bon Jovis’s doctors to try to figure out what happened. The N.J. County coroner’s office will determine a cause of death. A New Jersey Fire Department source told The Times that Bon Jovi was in full cardiac arrest when rescue units arrived.

Jon the lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was named after him, has had an astonishing career. He has released two solo albums and eleven studio albums with his band, which to date have sold over 130 million albums worldwide. Тhe band was declared the second richest band for 2011.

If you are anything like me then you have been to a dance or two and you have been acompanied by one or two of Jon Bon Jovi’s slow songs. Jon Bon Jovi is well known for some of his hit songs such as; Bed Of Roses, Always, Hallelujah, I’ll Be There For You and Thank You For Loving Me.

As a solo artist, Bon Jovi has received numerous awards for his work, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination for his solo hit, “Blaze of Glory.” He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Monmouth Universary in 2001. He campaigned for Al Gore in the 2000 Presidential electinos, John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential election, and Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential election.

Jon Bon Jovi’s wife of 22 years and high school sweetheart Dorothea Hurley and their four children – Stephanie Rose, 18, Jesse James, 16, Jacob, 9, and Romeo, 7 will indeed still have their father to hug!! He is a legendary man, and a incredible artist. When it’s his time I am sure that he will go in a Blaze of Glory.

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Does it really matter that much, whether or not someone says MerryChristmas or HappyHolidays? Does it really affect the end result of what they truly mean?

I find that some controversial sayings have become very petty in the last couple of years. Personally, whether or not someone does not respond to me over the holidays, by saying Merry Christmas does not mean that they are any less in the spirit.

I know that is has been a huge topic around here on whether employees can say Merry Christmas anymore because of the religious background behind it. It has been debated that the government and retail industry are trying to do away with people saying it to consumers, because of one’s personal background and religious beliefs. I think that this is ridiculous. We need to remember the true meaning of Christmas. We also have to remember that everyone has a different opinion, so we should be able to say what is fitting to our culture and not be judged. It’s a personal belief. It shouldn’t be about how someone else takes it or how it makes you feel. Why should someone convert their views to cater to someone else?

Shouldn’t I be able to say Happy Kwanzaa, if that was the traditional holiday that I celebrate and you respond back to me Happy Holiday. Shouldn’t we be able to respect one another?

Now I understand that the government are trying to use Happy Holidays as a standard, a generic saying if you must, so that there is no religion involved with it, but if you are that 85 years old man that has been saying Merry Christmas his whole life, then I do believe that he should have every right to feel disrespected when someone says to him that he shouldn’t say it anymore. Is this new standard of us not responding Merry Christmas back to him, appropriate or fair?

I feel that as the holidays approach, we should all take a little more time to respect one another. We need to remember that this season isn’t and shouldn’t be all about the merchandise, it’s about family and for a lot of people in the world Christmas is still about, Jesus’ birthday. So even though you may not agree with my thoughts or someone else’s thoughts on the time of the year doesn’t mean that we should disrespect one another.

Do you believe that we need to do away with saying Merry Christmas? Do you prefer Happy Holidays? Perhaps you are a different religion, would it bother you not if someone wished you something that was not your religion? Do you feel like you should have the right to say what you have grown up with, or do you feel like a generic saying for the world will makes things easier? Share your thoughts!

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Word Of The Moment

I am a lover of words. I do admit that I am not very dexterous about using them in sentences, but when I am reading a book and I see a great word it makes me smile. Words that flow so well in a paragraph and I think to myself, what I wonderful word.

So as often as I can, I will try to share with you the words that do it for me. :)